1963: Difference between revisions

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==Events==
==Events==
* The first railroad cars in the collection of the [[Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum]] were put on display at the site of the future [[Railroad Reservation Park]].
* [[Homewood]] bought the land for [[Spring Park]].
* [[Pilgrim Church|Pilgrim Congregational Church]] established a day school.
* The long-running "[[Sunday School Hour]]" radio program debuted on [[WFHK-AM]].
* [[Laura Knox]] founded the [[Southern Danceworks|Birmingham Creative Dance Group]].
* [[January 26]]–[[January 27|27]]: 1963 March of Dimes Auto Show at [[Boutwell Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]].
* [[January 26]]–[[January 27|27]]: 1963 March of Dimes Auto Show at [[Boutwell Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]].
* [[February 17]]–[[February 24|24]]: [[Vulcan]]'s torch signaled heart disease deaths rather than traffic fatalities for a week to support the Heart Fund Drive.
* [[February 17]]–[[February 24|24]]: [[Vulcan]]'s torch signaled heart disease deaths rather than traffic fatalities for a week to support the Heart Fund Drive.
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* [[December 23]]: The [[1963 Collegeville fire]] resulted in the deaths of six children.
* [[December 23]]: The [[1963 Collegeville fire]] resulted in the deaths of six children.
* [[December 31]]: A [[List of snowfalls|rare snowfall]] brought 8 inches to Birmingham.
* [[December 31]]: A [[List of snowfalls|rare snowfall]] brought 8 inches to Birmingham.
* The first railroad cars in the collection of the [[Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum]] were put on display at the site of the future [[Railroad Reservation Park]].
* [[Homewood]] bought the land for [[Spring Park]].
* [[Laura Knox]] founded the [[Southern Danceworks|Birmingham Creative Dance Group]].


===Business===
===Business===
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* [[July 2]]: The [[Bank for Savings and Trust]] and [[Birmingham Trust National Bank]] approved their merger.
* [[July 2]]: The [[Bank for Savings and Trust]] and [[Birmingham Trust National Bank]] approved their merger.
* [[September 3]]: The [[Birmingham Transit Company]] was sold to the American Transit Company of St Louis, Missouri.
* [[September 3]]: The [[Birmingham Transit Company]] was sold to the American Transit Company of St Louis, Missouri.
* [[Ruby Ansley]] founded [[Ruby Ansley Interiors]]
* The [[Chapman Radio and Television Company]] began petitioning the FCC to allow them to broadcast on [[WTTO|Channel 21]].
* [[City Federal Savings & Loan]] moved into the former [[City Federal Building|Comer Building]].
* [[Kenneth Daniel]] became President of [[American Cast Iron Pipe Company]].
* [[Edgewood Hardware]] opened.
* [[Edgewood Hardware]] opened.
* The [[Homewood Theatre]] closed for good.
* [[Fob James]] founded Diversified Products Inc.
* [[Fob James]] founded Diversified Products Inc.
* [[Kenneth Daniel]] became President of [[American Cast Iron Pipe Company]].
* The original [[Milo's Hamburgers]] was forced to move due to construction of [[I-20]]/[[I-59|59]].
* The [[Chapman Radio and Television Company]] began petitioning the FCC to allow them to broadcast on [[WTTO|Channel 21]].
* [[Parisian]] opened a second store at [[Five Points West]].
* The [[Homewood Theatre]] closed for good.
* [[Steiner Bank]] moved from the 1890 [[Steiner Building]] to modern offices at 1920 [[3rd Avenue North]].
* [[Larry Striplin, Jr]] bought the [[NelBran Glass|Nelson–Brantley Glass Company]].
* [[Larry Striplin, Jr]] bought the [[NelBran Glass|Nelson–Brantley Glass Company]].
* [[Ruby Ansley]] founded [[Ruby Ansley Interiors]]
* [[Steiner Bank]] moved from the 1890 [[Steiner Building]] to modern offices at 1920 [[3rd Avenue North]].
* [[City Federal Savings & Loan]] moved into the former [[City Federal Building|Comer Building]].


===Civil Rights Movement===
===Civil Rights Movement===
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* [[May 11]]: [[A. D. King]]'s [[A. D. King residence|residence]] and the [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] were hit by devastating bombs. [[May 1963 riot|Rioting]] spread across the city.
* [[May 11]]: [[A. D. King]]'s [[A. D. King residence|residence]] and the [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] were hit by devastating bombs. [[May 1963 riot|Rioting]] spread across the city.
* [[June 11]]: Governor [[George Wallace]] made his "[[stand in the schoolhouse door]]" to prevent integration of the [[University of Alabama]]. [[Vivian Malone]] and [[James Hood]] registered later that day.
* [[June 11]]: Governor [[George Wallace]] made his "[[stand in the schoolhouse door]]" to prevent integration of the [[University of Alabama]]. [[Vivian Malone]] and [[James Hood]] registered later that day.
[[July 12]]: The Fifth U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that [[Birmingham City Schools]] must be desegregated, beginning that fall.
* [[July 12]]: The Fifth U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that [[Birmingham City Schools]] must be desegregated, beginning that fall.
* [[July 23]]: The [[Birmingham City Council]] repealed its [[Segregation laws|segregation ordinances]] and reopened [[List of Birmingham parks|city parks]].
* [[July 23]]: The [[Birmingham City Council]] repealed its [[Segregation laws|segregation ordinances]] and reopened [[List of Birmingham parks|city parks]].
* [[September 10]]: [[Birmingham City Schools]] were integrated by National Guardsmen under orders from President Kennedy.
* [[September 10]]: [[Birmingham City Schools]] were integrated by National Guardsmen under orders from President Kennedy.
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* The [[9th Congressional District of Alabama]] was eliminated, with [[George Huddleston, Jr]] serving the last term as representative.
* The [[9th Congressional District of Alabama]] was eliminated, with [[George Huddleston, Jr]] serving the last term as representative.
* The [[Regional Planning Commission]] was created.
* The [[Regional Planning Commission]] was created.
=== Religion ===
* [[Pilgrim Church|Pilgrim Congregational Church]] established a day school.
* The long-running "[[Sunday School Hour]]" radio program debuted on [[WFHK-AM]].
* [[Wallace Wirtz]] succeeded [[Robert Woodfield]] as rector of [[St Andrew's Episcopal Church]].


===Sports===
===Sports===
* [[January 1]]: The [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] beat Oklahoma 17-0 in the Orange Bowl.  
* [[January 1]]: The [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama Crimson Tide]] beat Oklahoma 17-0 in the Orange Bowl.  
* The [[Birmingham Black Barons]] played their final season.
* [[1963 Birmingham Barons]]
* [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] won the [[1963 Iron Bowl]].
* [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] won the [[1963 Iron Bowl]].
* [[Al Belcher]] teamed up with Kansas City A's owner [[Charlie Finley]] to bring the [[Birmingham Barons]] back for the [[1964 Birmingham Barons|1964 season]].
* The [[Birmingham Black Barons]] played their  [[1963 Birmingham Barons|final season]].
* [[Billy Joe]] earned AFL Rookie of the Year honors with the Denver Broncos.
* [[Tommie Reynolds]] began his Major League career with the Kansas City Athletics.
* [[Tommie Reynolds]] began his Major League career with the Kansas City Athletics.
* [[Billy Joe]] earned AFL Rookie of the Year honors with the Denver Broncos.
* Coach [[Ray Woodard]] introduced soccer to Alabama with his first boys' team at [[Indian Springs School]].
* Coach [[Ray Woodard]] introduced soccer to Alabama with his first boys' team at [[Indian Springs School]].


==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[John Beecher]] began a two year stint as poet in residence at the University of Santa Clara.
* [[Chuck Morgan]] fled Birmingham with his family after receiving death threats for a speech condemning anyone who supported segregation as being guilty in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church.
===Births===
===Births===
[[Image:Charles Barkley.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Charles Barkley]]
[[Image:Charles Barkley.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Charles Barkley]]
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* [[Albert Boutwell]] succeeded [[Art Hanes]] as [[Mayor of Birmingham]].
* [[Albert Boutwell]] succeeded [[Art Hanes]] as [[Mayor of Birmingham]].
* [[Mel Bailey]] succeeded [[Holt McDowell]] as [[Jefferson County Sheriff]]
* [[Mel Bailey]] succeeded [[Holt McDowell]] as [[Jefferson County Sheriff]]
* [[Paul Bailey]] left [[University of Montevallo|Alabama College]] for [[Birmingham-Southern College]]
* [[Harvie Branscomb]] retired from the Chancellorship of Vanderbilt University.
* [[Delos Culp]] succeeded [[Howard Phillips]] as [[President of the University of Montevallo|President of Alabama College]].
* [[John Grenier]] became chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
* [[Nina Miglionico]] became the first woman elected to the Birmingham city government.
* [[Howard M. Phillips]] succeeded [[Henry Stanford]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]]
* [[Howard M. Phillips]] succeeded [[Henry Stanford]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]]
* [[Clarke Stallworth]] became city editor for the ''[[Birmingham Post-Herald]]''.
* [[Clarke Stallworth]] became city editor for the ''[[Birmingham Post-Herald]]''.
* [[John Grenier]] became chair of the Alabama Republican Party.
* [[Patrick Sullivan]] was assigned to priestly duties in North Alabama.
* [[Patrick Sullivan]] was assigned to priestly duties in North Alabama.
* [[Paul Bailey]] left [[University of Montevallo|Alabama College]] for [[Birmingham-Southern College]]
* [[Delos Culp]] succeeded [[Howard Phillips]] as [[President of the University of Montevallo|President of Alabama College]].
* [[Harvie Branscomb]] retired from the Chancellorship of Vanderbilt University.


===Awards===
===Awards===
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===Graduations===
===Graduations===
* [[Ben Saxon]] graduated from [[Bessemer High School]].
* [[William Cobb]] earned a master's in creative writing at Vanderbilt University.
* [[Charles Gaines]] earned his bachelor's degree at [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Charles Gaines]] earned his bachelor's degree at [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Mike Goodrich]] graduated from [[Indian Springs School]].
* [[Cleveland Hammonds]] earned his master's in guidance and counseling from Southern Illinois University.
* [[Cleveland Hammonds]] earned his master's in guidance and counseling from Southern Illinois University.
* [[Bev Head]] earned a bachelor's in economics from Yale College.
* [[Bev Head]] earned a bachelor's in economics from Yale College.
* [[William Cobb]] earned a master's in creative writing at Vanderbilt University.
* [[Gray Plosser]] graduated from Indian Springs School.
* [[Ben Saxon]] graduated from [[Bessemer High School]].


[[Image:Collins McNair Robertson Wesley.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Collins, McNair, Robertson, and Wesley]]
[[Image:Collins McNair Robertson Wesley.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Collins, McNair, Robertson, and Wesley]]
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===Buildings===
===Buildings===
[[Image:Fritz Woehle residence.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Fritz Woehle residence]]
[[Image:Fritz Woehle residence.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Fritz Woehle residence]]
* [[Hueytown City Hall]]
* [[3349 Brookwood Road]]
* [[3349 Brookwood Road]]
* [[Fritz Woehle residence]]
* [[Fritz Woehle residence]]
* 6-story, 50 room addition to the [[University Place Apartments|Guest House Motor Inn]]
* [[Hueytown City Hall]]
* [[Milo's Hamburgers]] second location on [[10th Avenue North]]
* [[Milo's Hamburgers]] second location on [[10th Avenue North]]
* New classrooms at [[Minor High School]]
* [[Pratt City Library]] on [[2nd Street Pratt City]]
* [[Pratt City Library]] on [[2nd Street Pratt City]]
* First contracts were signed for construction of the [[Red Mountain Expressway]]
* A large, electrically-lit cross was mounted to the tower of [[Third Presbyterian Church]]
* A large, electrically-lit cross was mounted to the tower of [[Third Presbyterian Church]]
* New classrooms at [[Minor High School]]
* 6-story, 50 room addition to the [[University Place Apartments|Guest House Motor Inn]]
* First contracts were signed for construction of the [[Red Mountain Expressway]]


==Context==
==Context==

Revision as of 12:29, 12 February 2013

1963 was the 92nd year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.

A watershed in the Civil Rights Movement occurred in 1963 when Birmingham Civil Rights Movement leader Fred Shuttlesworth requested that Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) come to Birmingham to help end segregation (see below). Together they launched "Project C" (for "Confrontation"), a massive assault on the Jim Crow system. During April and May daily sit-ins and mass marches were met with police repression, tear gas, attack dogs, and arrests. More than 3,000 people were arrested during these protests, many of the children. These protests were ultimately successful, leading not only to desegregation of public accommodations in Birmingham but also the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

While imprisoned for having taken part in a nonviolent protest, Dr. King wrote the now famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, a defining treatise in his cause against segregation. Birmingham is also known for a bombing which occurred later that year, in which four black girls were killed by a bomb planted at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The event would inspire the African-American poet Dudley Randall's opus, The Ballad of Birmingham, as well as jazz musician John Coltrane's song, "Alabama."

Events

Business

Civil Rights Movement

ACMHR pin.jpg

Government

George Wallace in 1968

Religion

Sports

Individuals

  • John Beecher began a two year stint as poet in residence at the University of Santa Clara.
  • Chuck Morgan fled Birmingham with his family after receiving death threats for a speech condemning anyone who supported segregation as being guilty in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church.

Births

Charles Barkley
A. C. Roper

Marriages

Albert Boutwell. courtesy BPL Archives

Offices

Awards

Graduations

Collins, McNair, Robertson, and Wesley

Deaths

See also List of Birmingham homicides in 1963

Works

Letter from Birmingham City Jail cover.jpg

Music

  • Angels and Demons at Play, Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra
  • When Sun Comes Out, Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra

Buildings

Fritz Woehle residence

Context

In 1963, the Vietnam War continued. Travel and financial transactions by U.S. citizens with Cuba were prohibited. The Beatles recorded and release their debut album, Please Please Me. Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705 crashed in the Florida Everglades killing all 43 persons aboard. Country music superstar Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash. The Alcatraz Island federal penitentiary in San Francisco Bay closed. The Coca-Cola Company introduced its first diet drink, Tab cola. NASA flew the final Mercury program mission. Vostok 6 carried Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman, into space. The Supreme Court ruled in Abington School District v. Schempp that state-mandated Bible reading in public schools is unconstitutional. Pope Paul VI succeeded Pope John XXIII.

Also in 1963, ZIP Codes were introduced. Hurricane Flora hit Hispaniola and Cuba killing nearly 7,000 people. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th President. Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin was later shot dead by Jack Ruby on live national television. A lightning strike caused the crash of Pan Am Flight 214 near Elkton, Maryland, killing 81 people. Kenya and Zanzibar became independent from Great Britain. The cruise ship Lakonia burned 180 miles north of Madeira, killing 128.

Books published in 1963 included Planet of the Apes (La Planète des Singes) by Pierre Boulle, Inside Mr. Enderby by Anthony Burgess, The Clocks by Agatha Christie, The Collector by John Fowles, On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Ian Fleming, The Spy who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré, Ice Station Zebra by Alistair MacLean, Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, and The Graduate by Charles Webb.

Top pop music hits of 1963 included "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons, "Fingertips Pt. 2" by Little Stevie Wonder, "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, and "Dominique" by The Singing Nun. The Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year went to "Days of Wine and Roses" by Henry Mancini. Album of the Year went to The Barbra Streisand Album by Barbra Streisand. Best New Artist was awarded to Ward Swingle of The Swingle Singers.

The top-grossing films of 1963 included Cleopatra, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, How the West Was Won, The Birds, and From Russia With Love. The Academy Award for Best Picture went to Tom Jones, as did Best Director (Tony Richardson). Best Actor went to Sidney Poitier for Lilies of the Field, while Best Actress went to Patricia Neal for Hud.

Television premieres of 1963 included Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, General Hospital, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, and Petticoat Junction. Also premiering in the United Kingdom was BBC television science fiction series Doctor Who. Series that ended in 1963 included The Voice of Firestone, The Real McCoys, and Leave It to Beaver,

Notable births in 1963 included baseball pitcher David Cone, singer and actress Vanessa L. Williams, model and actress Kathy Ireland, chess player Garry Kasparov, actor Eric McCormack, entertainer Conan O'Brien, martial artist and actor Jet Li, actress Natasha Richardson, comedian and actor Mike Myers, actor Johnny Depp, actress Helen Hunt, singer George Michael, actress Phoebe Cates, actress Lisa Kudrow, rapper Coolio, computer hacker Kevin Mitnick, singer Whitney Houston, actor John Stamos, singer Tori Amos, singer Richard Marx, baseball player Mark McGwire, and actor Brad Pitt.

Notable deaths included businessman and politician Robert S. Kerr, country singer Patsy Cline, Pope John XXIII, civil rights activist W. E. B. Du Bois, conductor Fritz Reiner, criminal Robert Stroud, writer Aldous Huxley, President John F. Kennedy, novelist C. S. Lewis, and wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner.

1960s
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